Math

Our Beliefs

All students will graduate from Highline as successful mathematicians who understand high-level mathematics in ways that are RELEVANT, INTERACTIVE, and JOYFUL.

Student-centered classrooms that are inclusive, equity-focused, and standards-based will enable students to find meaningful mathematical applications in their everyday lives.

Learning Standards

Highline students will develop deep mathematical understanding of the content standards through the eight mathematical practices, as articulated in our Washington State K-12 Standards. Student achievement will be supported through the Effective Practices for Equitable Mathematics Teaching from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Students will experience a classroom environment that encourages risk-taking, learning from mistakes, and the promotion of a growth mindset.

Equitable Practices for Equitable Mathematics Teaching

Establish mathematics goals to focus learning

Implement tasks that promote reasoning and problem solving

Use and connect mathematical representations

Facilitate meaningful mathematical discourse

Pose purposeful questions

Build procedural fluency from conceptual understanding

Support productive struggle in learning mathematics

Elicit and use evidence of student thinking

Mathematical Attitudes

Math is challenging and involves wonder, curiosity, and productive struggle.

Students will engage in mathematics that include number sense, fluency and problem solving.

Learning is a social endeavor.

Different viewpoints and pathways are essential for building deep understanding.

Structures are established to promote equitable student voice.

Students are encouraged to use and share different ideas, methods, and perspectives.

Culturally responsive teaching practices are embedded throughout the lessons.

Math Pathways

Starting in fall 2019, our math course pathways have been redesigned to ensure students have the foundational mathematics content and skills necessary for success beyond Algebra.

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

Common Core Math 6

Common Core Math 7

Common Core Math 8

Some standards that were once taught in Algebra 1 are now spread across math courses in grades 6, 7 and 8. Some standards that were once taught in Algebra 2 are now taught in Algebra 1. Here are some examples.

Grade 6

The following standards used to be taught in Algebra 1 but are now taught in grade 6.

Solve one-variable equations and inequalities

Simplify expressions and polynomials: apply distributive property

Grade 7

The following standards used to be taught in Algebra 1 but are now taught in grade 7.

Solve multi-step equations: rational numbers

Simplify expressions and polynomials: rational coefficients

Grade 8

The following standards used to be taught in Algebra 1 but are now taught in grade 8.

Work with irrational numbers

Solve proportional relationships, lines, and linear equations

Solve linear equations and pairs of simultaneous linear equations

Work with radicals and integer exponents

Simplify expressions and polynomials

Work with scatter plots for bivariate measurement data

Define, evaluate and compare linear functions

Algebra 1

The following standards used to be taught in Algebra 2 but are now taught in Algebra 1.

In fall 2020, our high schools will transition to a trimester schedule. Here are sample trimester math pathways for students interested in pursuing advanced mathematics beyond Algebra 2. ** For students who want to take AP Calc A/B and AP Calc B/C